Public Procurement and Property

World SME Day: Supporting Scotland’s Small Businesses

June 26, 2026 by Scottish Procurement No Comments | Category Procurement news, Scottish Procurement, SMEs

World SME day gives us the opportunity to recognise the contribution that small and medium-sized enterprises make to our economy, communities and public services. 

SMEs are critical to the social, economic and environmental health of Scotland. They drive innovation, create jobs, support local communities and bring specialist expertise to every sector. From technology start-ups and manufacturing to social enterprises and family-run firms, SMEs are helping to shape Scotland’s future. 

This year’s World SME Day is an opportunity to recognise the significant work being undertaken by the Scottish Government to ensure SMEs have greater access to public sector opportunities and can play a central role in delivering products and services across the country. 

Breaking down barriers 

The Scottish Government’s Annual Report on Procurement Activity in Scotland 2023–2024 highlights the scale of this impact. Public sector procurement spend reached £17.5 billion, with £9.5 billion spent with suppliers based in Scotland. Importantly, SMEs are at the heart of this activity with £7.6 billion spent with SMEs which amounts to 47.6% of all reported procurement spend where business size was known.  

Procurement activity is also opening doors to a wide range of businesses. More than 17,300 suppliers were awarded contracts with SMEs making up 78% of these and of that 60% were Scottish SMEs.  

One of the most notable developments was the publication of the Scottish Government’s first SME and Third Sector Procurement Action Plan in April 2024. 

Developed following extensive engagement with industry partners and stakeholders, the Action Plan aimed to reduce barriers that can prevent smaller organisations from accessing public contracts. It focused on improving opportunities to enable participation, strengthen collaboration and ensuring procurement processes are designed with SMEs and third-sector organisations in mind along with increasing innovation.

This matters because smaller businesses often bring innovation, agility and specialist expertise that larger suppliers can struggle to match. By creating a more accessible procurement landscape, Scotland is helping ensure that public sector contracts are open a more diverse range of businesses. 

It also matters because widening access to procurement helps strengthen local economies and support community wealth building. When smaller and third-sector organisations secure public contracts, more of that spend stays within local areas, supporting jobs, strengthening supply chains and creating wider social value. 

Looking ahead 

World SME Day is ultimately about recognising the entrepreneurs, business owners and employees whose hard work helps drive prosperity and resilience across our communities. 

The latest procurement figures show that Scotland is not only acknowledging the importance of SMEs but also taking practical steps to support them. Through targeted procurement policies, action plans designed to remove barriers, investment in innovation and a commitment to inclusive growth, the Scottish Government is helping create an environment where SMEs can thrive. 

For SMEs looking to take advantage of public sector opportunities, a wide range of support is available.  

• the Supplier Development Programme provides free training, webinars and guidance to help businesses understand public procurement and improve their bidding skills.  

• additional practical resources can be found on the Supplier Journey, which offers step-by-step guidance on selling to the public sector 

• while Public Contracts Scotland is the national portal where businesses can find and bid for public sector contract opportunities across Scotland. 

Together, these resources help ensure that SMEs are well equipped to compete, grow and succeed in the public sector marketplace. 

For further information on public procurement in Scotland please visit www.gov.scot/procurement

Please email enquiries to scottishprocurement@gov.scot

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